The Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka has announced the safe return of 13 Indian fishermen to Chennai on Tuesday.
This follows a recent trend, as on January 5, 21 Indian fishermen were also repatriated from Sri Lanka to Chennai, having been detained by the Sri Lankan Navy for alleged illegal poaching in Lankan waters.
In 2023 alone, the Sri Lankan Navy apprehended at least 33 Indian trawlers and 220 fishermen, as stated in a December report. The situation escalated with six Indian fishermen from Tamil Nadu being arrested in December, and in a separate incident, 25 fishermen (12 from Tamil Nadu and 13 from Puducherry) were detained.
These recurring arrests have raised concerns not only at the central level but also for the Tamil Nadu government, highlighting the ongoing challenges and tensions surrounding fishing activities in the region.
